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A youthful scientist expressed his surprise upon uncovering an entirely new type of dinosaur known as a “chicken from hell”.
Researchers recently found that the fossils, previously believed to be from a young individual of a known species, actually belong to a new species. This finding holds significant significance in our understanding of a time when dinosaurs were believed to be dwindling in numbers.
According to Kyle Atkins-Weltman, a PhD candidate at Oklahoma State University, he bought four fossils for $5,000 in 2020 after being unable to locate the necessary bones for his initial research project.
He expressed, “My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t believe this was happening so early in my career.” According to Live Science, the hind limb fossils were believed to belong to a dinosaur resembling a cassowary called Anzu wyliei, also known as the “chicken from hell.” But upon scanning the fossils, Mr. Atkins-Weltman discovered they belonged to an unknown species.
The recent discovery of a raptor species nicknamed the “chicken from hell” in the US Hell Creek Formation has led researchers to believe that dinosaur populations were not decreasing before the catastrophic asteroid impact approximately 65 million years ago.
Up until now, there has been a scientific debate surrounding the state of dinosaurs before the extinction event that ultimately led to their demise. It has been unclear whether they were experiencing a decline or thriving at the time.
Although some studies indicated that there was an increase in dinosaur diversity between 83.6 million and 71.2 million years ago, many argued that the asteroid impact was simply the last event to contribute to a declining population.
Researchers have recently discovered that a diminutive dinosaur originally believed to be a young individual of a known species is actually an adult belonging to a previously unidentified species.
A recent discovery, outlined in the journal PLOS One, indicates that there could be additional species from the era of dinosaur extinction that have yet to be uncovered. The variety of large reptiles may not have decreased before the impact of the asteroid.
A visual representation of three dinosaur species: Eoneophron infernalis (top left), MOR 752 (bottom left), and Anzu wyliei (right), found in the Hell Creek Formation.
Scientists studied four leg bones found in South Dakota, which were discovered in the Hell Creek Formation and are estimated to be from the last two million years of the Cretaceous period.
At first, it was believed to be a young member of the caenagnathid group, which are bird-like dinosaurs with beaks without teeth, lengthy legs, and brief tails, also known as the “chicken from hell.”
However, it is uncommon to come across young individuals of this category, and there is a lack of documented instances of successfully locating juvenile members of the species in scientific publications, according to researchers.
The bone sample was evaluated for growth rings, which can reveal the age of the dinosaur, similar to how tree rings indicate the age of plants.
The existence of dinosaurs has impacted human aging.
Upon analyzing the bones for growth rings, scientists have stated that their findings have completely challenged their initial beliefs.
The growth lines showed that the animal had reached its adult size and was no longer growing at a rapid pace.
According to scientists writing in The Conversation, the recently discovered species has been given the name Eoneophron infernalis, which translates to “Pharaoh’s dawn chicken from Hell.”
Scientists have additionally discovered distinctive characteristics of the diminutive dinosaur species, such as the fusion of ankle bones to the tibia and a prominently developed ridge on its foot.
Researchers believe that there could have potentially existed a third species of “chicken from Hell” that was approximately the same size as a German shepherd.
Recent research indicates that caenagnathid populations, along with other dinosaur groups, may have maintained a stable population during the latter part of the Cretaceous period before the catastrophic asteroid impact.
Scientists believe that there may be additional undiscovered dinosaur species from this era, suggesting that the decrease in diversity among certain groups could be attributed to limitations in sampling and preservation methods.
Source: independent.co.uk
